Bottle cap



Aug. 19, 1952 c. P. HENNON 2,607,505

BOTTLE CAP Filed Dec. 8, 1959 INVENToR. CHAnLEs P. HEMNQH Arr-rota u EYB Patented Aug. 19, 1952 This invention relatesto bottlecaps, and more particularly to bottle caps of the type having.

means for removing the cap from the top f a bottle without the use of any separate implement.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bottle cap of the type having lever means for removing the cap from the top of a bottle, the improved cap being simple in construction, being positive in operation, and being manufacturable from a single piece of metal.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle cap of the crimped type provided with means for removing the cap from the top of a bottle without the use of a separate implement, the improved cap being vinexpensive to manufacture, being quickly and easily removed when desired, and being easily manipulated when removal thereof is desired.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an improved bottle cap according to the present invention shown mounted on the top of a bottle;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on 'line 4 4 of Figure 2, showing the main body of the cap in bottom plan view, a portion of the cork of the cap being broken vaway and the bottle being omitted;

Figure 5 is a side elevational View showing the improved bottle cap of Figure 1 with its movable segment bent upwardly for removal of the cap from the top of a bottle.

Referring to the drawings, the improved bottle cap is designated generally at II and comprises a disc-shaped top wall I2 which is formed with a depending annular skirt I3 formed with the usual crimped elements I4 for clampingly securing the disc-shaped body member I2 to the top bead I5 of a bottle I6. The depending skirt I3 is formed with diametrically opposed slits I1, I'I, said slits extending a substantial distance from the free lower edge of the skirt I3 and preferably terminating adjacent to the periphery of the disc-shaped top wall I2.

Designated at I8 is a depending tongue integrally formed with the bottle cap, said tongue being spaced substantially midway between the slits I1, Il and merging with the segment at zffcaims. 01.21551-1-46 one` side of said slits throughA a radial, "relatively narrowcorrugationi I9 'of substantial heightl'f'As shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, the radial corrugation I9 forms a continuation of the top end of the rdepending lever I8 and said radial vcorrugation extends inwardly and terminates substantially at the center of the disc-shaped top Wall I2. As further shown in Figure 3, the side walls of the corrugation I9, shown at 20, 20, may be substantially in face-to-face contact, whereby, said corrugation is relatively narrow in width but has substantial rigidity with respect to vertically applied forces.

The bottle cap thus far described is stamped from a single piece of metal and may be fabricated by a simple combination stamping and shearing operation.

Designated at 2| is a conventional cork stopper or pad secured to the bottom surface of the discshaped top wall I2 in the usual manner.

The bottle stopper is placed on the top of a bottle by the usual method when the bottle is I lled at the bottling plant. When the user desires to remove the cap II, he merely grasps the lower end of the depending lever I8 and rotates the lever clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, thereby transmitting torque through the rigid corrugation I9 to the bendable section of the bottle cap associated therewith, whereby said bendable section is bent upwardly with respect to the other section of the cap, .as shown in Figure 5. Such upward bending is permitted by the provision of the diametrically opposed slits I'I, I1. With the cap bent in the manner shown in Figure 5, the cap may be readily removed from the top of the bottle and discarded.

If so desired, the cap may be replaced on the top of the bottle and restored to covering relation with respect to the bottle top by rotating the depending lever I8 downwardly to engage the cap section associated therewith with the top bead of the bottle.

While a specic embodiment of an improved bottle cap of the lever type has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations Ibe placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bottle cap comprising a disc-shaped top wall, a depending annular skirt formed on said top Wall and having diametrically opposed slits extending a substantial distance from the free tions bendable relative to each other, an upstanding rib projecting transversely from the portion of said top wall of one of said sections midway of said slits and extending from the diametral line joining said slits to the adjacent portion of said skirt, and a depending lifting tongue arranged exteriorly of and merging with said skirt portion and having its top merging with said rib.

2. A bottle cap' comprising a dise-shaped top Wall, a depending annular skirt having diametrically opposed slits extending a substantial distance from the free lower edge of the skirt and dening a pair of sections bendable relative to each other, a pair of upstanding ilanges lyingv in side by side relation and joined adjacent the Y midway of said slits and extending from the diametral line joining said slits to the adjacent lportion Vof said skirt,` and; adepending lifting 4 tongue arranged exteriorly of and merging with said skirt portion and having its top merging with said anges.

` CHARLES P. HENNON.Y

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

'l STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 598,952 Neuendorff Feb. 15, 1898 1,026,282 Schmitt May 14, 1912 1,054,458 Schrier Feb. 25, 1913 1,154,853 Freebey Sept. 28, 1915 1,168,182 v 'Ellis Jan. 11, 1916 y 1,522,864 Cassetta Jan, 13, 1925 1,658,396 Sato Feb. 7, 1928 1,715,882 Wygonik June 4, 1929 2,151,129 Markle Mar. 21, 1939 2,156,258 f Atwood May 2, 1939 

